High schools evacuated following bomb threat

No devices found at Ephrata, Soap Lake

EPHRATA — Ephrata High School was evacuated Friday at 12:05 p.m. after someone called 911 and reported that a bomb was at the school.

In a press release from the Ephrata Police Department, authorities reported that a male subject phoned the Multi Agency Communications Center with a vague description of a bomb at the school and then hung up.

Students and staff were evacuated shortly after for the remainder of the day. No injuries were reported.

Homes in the area were not evacuated.

A canine unit including an explosive detection dog and officer from the Grand Coulee Police Department searched the school, but the suspected device was not found.

Grand Coulee Police officer Sean Cook said that he performed the initial sweep of the inside and outside of the school. He said it took a few hours to complete the search, but the dog did not find explosive material at the school.

Cook said the dog is certified by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Grant County Sheriff's Office assisted in the search and the initial investigation along with the Ephrata Fire Department.

Because the bomb threat was vague, the high school in Soap Lake was also evacuated until the buildings were searched.

The police department has not named suspects in the bomb threat and they reported that the incident is still under investigation.

Ephrata High School has received previous bomb threats, with one as recently as last year, said Sgt. Jim McNeil, of the Ephrata Police Department.